Combined reading stand and table



No. 608,503. Patented Aug. 2, I898.

. n. H. ALLEN.

GQMBINED READING STAND AND TABLE.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 1597.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR', Wfizy7 o\ 9 "m: Nonms PETERS co vuorouma. WASHINGTON. c. c.

' UNITED STATES DAVID H. ALLEN3. 01F MIAiMIsBURG PATENT OFFICE.

,onro.

COMBINED READING STAND AND TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,503, dated August 2, 1898.

Application filed August 18, 1897. Serial No. 648,671. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID I-I. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Miamisburg, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Readin g Stand and Table, of which the .followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification. I

This invention relates to a reading stand and table adapted to be folded or adjusted to set at any desiredor convenient angle for use and to be readily taken apart and folded into compact shape for transportation.

The invention will be readily understood from the following descriptionand claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the improved stand and table in side elevation. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section through the tubular up right support, showing the legs of the table in plan view. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the table.- Fig. 4 represents the table in side elevation, partly in section, taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents asection through the tubular upright,

showing the split collar or ring thereon in plan view.

1 indicates a socket-piece provided on its sides with oppositely-disposed screw-threaded sockets for the tubular legs 2, 3, 4, and 5, screw-threaded to engage said sockets and arranged ninety degrees apart. These legs extend substantially horizontally from the socket-piece 1 and have their ends bent downwardor provided with curved or L-shaped terminals 6, forming feet for the support of the stand or table. One of the legs (indicated at 2) is preferably made shorter than the others to permit the stand to be placed against a wall or partition on that side, thereby adapting it to take up less room than wouldotherwise be required.

The upper face of the socket-piece 1 has an enlarged screw-threaded socket, adapting it to receivethe lower screw-threaded end of end of the part 7 of the standard is a split collar or ring 9, the ends of which turn out- 'ward in the form of perforated ears or lugs 10 to receive a thumb-screw 11, by the adjustment of which the collar can be adjusted for permitting the adjustment up or down of, the part 8 for adjusting the height of the stand or table in a manner that will be readily understood, or the collar 9 or part 7 may be provided With'a' set-screw 12, adapted to engage the part 8 for holding it at any desired adjustment. To the upper end of part 8 is secured an angular or curved coupling-piece 13, either screw-threaded to' said end or made in the form of-a sleeve to fit snugly over the upper end of the part 8 and permit of its ready removal therefrom. The free end of the curved coupling-piece is at right angles to the part secured to thestandard 8 and is internally screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded end of the horizontal tubular 'arm'14', the outer end of which is connected in a similar manner with the tubular cross-head or coupling-piece 15,,in the upright tubular arm 16 of which is pivoted the standard 17 of a T- shaped piece, the cross-head 18 of which has its ends pivoted in lugs 19, secured to the lower face of the table 20. By this arrangement it will be seen that the table is connected with the arm 14 to permit it to swing in a horizontal plane and also to be swung or adjusted on a horizontal pivot for tilting or set ting it at any desired angle of inclination.

To thelower face of the table 20, outside of the cross-head 18, is secured a bracket 21,

having independent lugs or ears 22,in which is pivoted a slotted segmental plate 23, adapted to slide by the lower end of the standard 17 and to be engaged therewith and held at any desired adjustment by a set-screw 24, passing through the slotted plate 23 and engaging the standard 17. By this arrangement the table can be held at any desired angle of adjustment.

The table proper, 20, may be of any suitable material and construction, but is provided, preferably, with a strip 25, pivoted at its ends between the projecting ends of the side cleats or battens 26 and so arranged that when the table is tilted to form a reading desk or stand said strip 25 can be turned up on edge, as shown in dotted lines, Fi 4, to form a support for a book resting on the table.

\Vhen not in use, the slotted segment can be detached from the standard 17 and folded against the lower surface of the table, and the standard 17, when lifted out of engagement with the tubular arm 16, can be folded against the table in like manner, as shown in dotted lines.

The several parts of the supporting stand or frame can be readily separated for packin g in a manner that will be understood from the foregoing description, thereby adapting the table to be folded into compact shape for transportation.

The several parts of the stand can be made from gas-pipe and the usual coupling-pieces therefor, thereby giving a cheap but substantial construction, or it can be made from steel or brass tubing having any desired ornamental configuration. The table itself will preferably be made rectangular in form for the purpose indicated; but it may be made in other forms, if desired. By making one of the legs short, as described, the table can be set close up to a wall and still can swing from side to side over the longer legs, thereby economizing room and obviating any danger of overturning the table by preventing it from swinging over the shortened leg. The legs may, however, be of uniform length, and three may be used instead of four, if preferred.

The pivoted book-rest is preferabl y mounted in a rabbet in the edge of the table to which it is applied to adapt it to fold down flush on its upper face with the surface of the table when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an adjustable reading stand and table, the combination of the supporting-standard composed of the telescopic sections, the removable legs connected therewith, the swinging arm having on its outer end a removable T-shaped coupling, a table having depending lugs, and a T-shaped table-support having at its cross-head end pivotal bearing in said lugs and its standard having pivotal bearing in the T-shaped coupling on the swinging arm, whereby said table has both vertical and horizontal pivotal connection with said arm, substantially as described.

2. In an adjustable reading stand and table, the combination of a supportingstandard composed of telescoping sections, a socket-piece therefor and removable legs having screw threaded connection with said socket-piece, a removable horizontal arm having a swiveling connection with said stand ard, a T- shaped standard pivoted in said swiveling arm, the table pivotally connected to said T-piece, a segmental plate pivoted to the table and adjustably connected to said T-piece and means for holding said segment and with it the table at any desired adjustment, substantially as described.

3. In an adjustable reading stand and table, the combination with the table and the swiveling arm and telescopic standard on which said table is mounted, of the T-piece having its cross-head pivoted to the table and its standard journalcd in a sleeve on the swiveling supporting-arm, to permit its ready removal, and the segmental plate pivoted to the table and ad justably connected with the swiveling T-piece, whereby said T-piece and segment are adapted to be folded against; the table when not in use, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this llth day of August, A. l). 1897.

DAVID II. ALLEN. lVitnesses:

JOHN EICHER, \V. A. Rnrrnn. 

